Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Lyrics

by Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)

Notes on the Hymn

Henry van Dyke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_van_Dyke_Jr. wrote the Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee lyrics in 1907. At the time, he was serving as guest preacher at Williams College in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. Inspired by the beautiful scenery of the Berkshires, he presented the hymn to Williams College president, Harry A. Garfield. Van Dyke also specified that it be sung to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven's, Hymn to Joy. Editors of the Presbyterian Hymnal included it in a new 1911 edition. Concurrently, editors included the hymn in a collection entitled, Poems of Henry van Dyke

(stanzas 1 & 2)

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Praising Thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise:
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Blooming meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

(3 & 4)

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our brother,
All who live in love are Thine:
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father-love is reigning o’er us,
Brother-love binds man to man.
Ever singing march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Click link for another hymn of praise published about the same time https://faithmusicconnection.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=118&action=architect&tve=true

Keep Singing,

Dr. Larry